To improve remarkably display characteristics, such as a contrast, a visual characteristic, and aim great improvement of mechanical characteristics, by using a liquid crystalline polymer showing an optically positive uniaxial property, to which a specific compound is added.

This optical anistropic element comprises a combination between a liquid crystal film obtained by immobilizing the orientation state formed in the liquid crystal state by a liquid crystalline composition including a liquid crystalline polymer showing an optically positive uniaxial property and a polycyclic compound shown by a formula: R1-B1-A1-...-Bn-An-Bn+1-R2 and having a molecular weight of 1,000 or less, and a light, diffusion pressure sensitive adhesive layer. In the formula, R1 and R2 show a hydrocarbon group having a carbon number of 1-20 individually, and A1-An show a carbocyclic structure or a heterocyclic structure individually. B1-Bn+1 show a linkage chain having the number of principal chain atoms of 0-4 individually, and (n) shows an integer of 2 or more and simultaneously 8 or less. But, individual carbocyclic structure or heterocyclic structure is not bonded to the linkage chains B1-Bn+1 with the same carbon atom in the same ring.